Name: Sazón
Total time: 10 min
Yield: Makes about ½ cup
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons table salt; 2 tablespoons ground annatto; 1 tablespoon garlic powder; 1 tablespoon onion powder; 1 tablespoon ground cumin; 1 tablespoon ground turmeric; ½ teaspoon pepper

Why This Recipe Works

Sazón–typically a cumin-forward mix of spices containing onion, garlic, and ground annatto–is one of the most commonly used seasonings in Puerto Rican cuisine and throughout Latin America. Our recipe was developed by Von Diaz and adapted from her book, Coconuts & Collards: Recipes and Stories from Puerto Rico to the Deep South (2018). Adding ground turmeric to the mix gave our sazón a golden hue to accompany the complex flavors.

Before You Begin

This recipe is adapted from Coconuts & Collards: Recipes and Stories from Puerto Rico to the Deep South (2018) by Von Diaz. You can find ground annatto in the spice aisle of well-stocked supermarkets, in Latin markets, or online. If you can't find annatto, you can substitute paprika.